This week, AI agents made big waves in manufacturing. First, a new report showed AI is causing thousands of job losses in the U.S., especially in factories and warehouses. Companies are using agentic AI to automate tasks like assembly lines and inventory management, which reduces the need for human workers. Meanwhile, the U.S. manufacturing PMI dropped to 48% in July, signaling a slowdown. This contraction was partly due to AI-driven efficiency improvements that reduced the need for some human roles, like supply chain coordination and quality control. Globally, AI-powered supply chain tools are helping companies predict demand and manage deliveries better, but these changes also create challenges for workers.